Early Sunday, the FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, located about 40 miles south of Butler. "It’ll be some time before we can conclusively answer" if it was a lone gunman, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said during a news conference late Saturday. Bivens added that the victims had been identified, and their families had been notified, though their names are not being made public at this time.
The Pennsylvania State Police will lead the homicide investigation, while the FBI will handle the "attempted assassination" probe. Bivens assured the public that "at this time we have no reason to believe there is any other outstanding threat out there."
In a post on Truth Social, Trump thanked the agents protecting him. "Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured," he said. "It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."
Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign's communication director, confirmed that Trump was checked out at a local medical facility and was fine.
Despite the incident, the Trump campaign and the RNC issued a statement reaffirming that the Republican National Convention will proceed as planned this week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, starting Monday.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, stated that at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET, the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue. Secret Service agents neutralized the shooter. The incident resulted in one spectator being killed and two others critically injured.
President Biden condemned the incident, calling it "sick." From Delaware, he stated, "There is no place in America for this kind of violence, it's sick. We cannot allow this to happen." A White House official disclosed that Biden spoke with Trump and is returning to Washington to receive an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials. The Biden campaign has paused all outbound communications and is working to pull down its television ads as quickly as possible.
Chris Takach, an attendee at the rally, recounted the event to Oliver Morrison of NPR member station WESA: “We were next to the speaker tower on the fence line, heard the shots, we heard ammunition, riddle around in metal and then the hydraulic line on the speaker tower on the right side come down and then everybody hit the deck and then the cops all converged toward the, the right side of his body, Trump’s that is.”
Lawmakers have swiftly reacted to the shooting. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, "Praying for President Trump." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement, "My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed that sentiment, saying, "Political violence has no place in our country. I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics. We appreciate the swift work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement."
Former presidential candidates Doug Burgum, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley have all posted messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing concern and offering prayers for Trump.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that he had been briefed and that "the Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.
#DonaldTrump #trumpnews #trumpshooting #trumpshooter #donaldtrumpshooter #presidenttrumpshot #trumpshotatrally #whoshotattrump #trumpshot
Post a Comment